POSTED BY ARNOLD HAMILTON
The new-look Daily Disappointment is pulling the same old stunts.
Today's Opinion page includes a sophomoric scolding of Oklahoma Democrats for failing to erase convicted former state auditor Jeff McMahan from the state party web site [okdemocrats.org].
It sets up the attack -- headlined "Definition Of Irony" -- with a quote from "one man" who "described his decision to be a Democrat" this way: "Any government which derives its authority from its people must have its people's interests in mind. Otherwise it is destined to fail."
The Disappointment then huffs, "Could anyone serious argue [McMahan's] an example of a government official who puts others' interests above his own?"
What's really ironic is the next item in the Monday Morning Quarterbacks column -- a recap from politico.com of the federal corruption case against longtime Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.
Conspicuously missing: Stevens' party affiliation.
Hmmmm. Could it be? Oh, no, Stevens is a Republican ... a Republican U.S. Senator for 40 years.
It's true that these items appear on the "Opinion" page, not in the news columns. Still, isn't it intellectually dishonest not to identify Stevens' party -- especially after taking the other party to task for corruption?
Remember: It's often not what the Daily Disappointment tells you, it's what they don't tell you.
In this case, the new-look Disappointment reads too much like the old.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Fake Facts
POSTED BY FROSTY TROY
One of the arguments you hear from those in favor of tort "reform" is the false claim that Oklahoma is losing doctors and liability insurance premiums are unbearably high.
The claim is that Oklahoma is losing doctors in high-risk fields such as emergency medicine and obstetrics.
Are there big malpractice liability payouts that help fuel high insurance rates for doctors?
Before you fall for this fairy tale, check with Hugh Robert, executive director of the Oklahoma Center for Consumer and Patient Safety. He says both contentions are wrong.
The number of doctors in Oklahoma is actually rising and lawsuit outcomes prove that Oklahoma is hardly a jackpot jury haven.
Oklahoma losing doctors? Hardly. In 1997, according to data from the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, 4,787 medical doctors were practicing in the state, including 166 emergency physicians and 276 practicing obstetrics, gynecology or both, including ob-gyn surgical specialists.
By 2007, the total had risen by more than 900 to 5,718, including 283 ER doctors and 395 in the ob/gyn fields. However, the number of the latter had dropped from 414 in 2004.
When it comes to osteopathic physicians, data from the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association shows that in 1997 there were a total of 880 doctors licensed to practice in Oklahoma, not including retirees, interns and residents.
In 2007, the osteopathic association listed 1,324 licensed doctors in Oklahoma, including 143 ER doctors and 58 in the ob/gyn field.
Federation of State Medical Boards shows that Oklahoma ranks 43rd per capita for the number of doctors practicing in the state, just above Arkansas. Texas ranked 49th, Kansas 24th, New Mexico 31st.
In Oklahoma, between 2002 and 2006, population growth in Oklahoma was 2.54%, according to the U.S. Census. The doctor population has grown at 7.93%.
Somebody please read this to the editorial writers at the Daily Disappointment.
One of the arguments you hear from those in favor of tort "reform" is the false claim that Oklahoma is losing doctors and liability insurance premiums are unbearably high.
The claim is that Oklahoma is losing doctors in high-risk fields such as emergency medicine and obstetrics.
Are there big malpractice liability payouts that help fuel high insurance rates for doctors?
Before you fall for this fairy tale, check with Hugh Robert, executive director of the Oklahoma Center for Consumer and Patient Safety. He says both contentions are wrong.
The number of doctors in Oklahoma is actually rising and lawsuit outcomes prove that Oklahoma is hardly a jackpot jury haven.
Oklahoma losing doctors? Hardly. In 1997, according to data from the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, 4,787 medical doctors were practicing in the state, including 166 emergency physicians and 276 practicing obstetrics, gynecology or both, including ob-gyn surgical specialists.
By 2007, the total had risen by more than 900 to 5,718, including 283 ER doctors and 395 in the ob/gyn fields. However, the number of the latter had dropped from 414 in 2004.
When it comes to osteopathic physicians, data from the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association shows that in 1997 there were a total of 880 doctors licensed to practice in Oklahoma, not including retirees, interns and residents.
In 2007, the osteopathic association listed 1,324 licensed doctors in Oklahoma, including 143 ER doctors and 58 in the ob/gyn field.
Federation of State Medical Boards shows that Oklahoma ranks 43rd per capita for the number of doctors practicing in the state, just above Arkansas. Texas ranked 49th, Kansas 24th, New Mexico 31st.
In Oklahoma, between 2002 and 2006, population growth in Oklahoma was 2.54%, according to the U.S. Census. The doctor population has grown at 7.93%.
Somebody please read this to the editorial writers at the Daily Disappointment.
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